Not all women think abortion is cool for themselves, but all women have the right to make this choice.

Abortion is a simple medical procedure
which ends a pregnancy. Throughout history, around the world, and in many
religions, women have used abortion as a part of our healthcare. Other options for an unplanned pregnancy include adoption or keeping
the child.

access to abortion

In the United States it is legal for a woman to get an abortion. But as a minor, you may need to ask your parents first. If you think they'll be supportive, definitely tell them. In some states
you can get an abortion without telling your parents. In others, there
are Parental Consent or Parental Notification laws. Check with the
Abortion Hotline (1-800-772-9100 or www.prochoice.org) for info on restrictions in your state.
(See Parental
Consent for a list of state laws).

parental consent

Parental Consent laws mean that you will need to get permission from a parent or guardian if you are under a certain age, usually 18. Some laws allow for permission from another adult family member.

Parental Notification laws mean that you have to tell a parent or guardian if you are under a certain age, usually 18, but legally you don't need their permission. Unfortunately, many clinics still won't do the abortion unless your parents give permission.

If you are thinking about an abortion and live where there is a Parental Consent or Notification law, it's a good idea to call a clinic that does abortions. They can help you to get a "judicial bypass" to the law by explaining your situation to a judge. The judge can give permission for the abortion. But this can take time, so call right away. You can also go to a state without these laws, if you can't tell your parents.

Parental Consent laws are state laws. So get involved in your state! Contact Choice USA to find, or start, a pro-choice group at your school (www.choiceUSA.org).

women choose abortion for many reasons:

we can't handle having a baby right now

our parents would be angry or disappointed; we might get kicked out
of the house

having a baby might screw up finishing high school, going to college,
or having a career

the father is not going to help

we don't have the money to take care of a baby

having a baby isn't healthy for us or the baby

we may have gotten pregnant by rape or incest

Any reason we have for choosing abortion is a good reason. These are
our bodies and our lives. No one has the right to force us to have a baby,
or to punish us for liking sex.

There are several groups listed under Women's Healthcare in the Resources
which can help you find a safe abortion clinic, pregnancy test, or help
with money for an abortion.

If you choose a clinic on your own, watch out for bogus clinics like
Crisis Pregnancy Centers. These clinics seem like real health clinics, but
aren't. They are run by anti-abortion groups and will try to
scare you out of having an abortion. These fake clinics are listed in
the yellow pages under Abortion Alternatives. Real clinics are listed
as Abortion Services.

NEVER have an illegal abortion -- like one done in someone's home or
by swallowing poisons! Abortion is safe when done in a legal clinic or
hospital.

Although any medical operation can be scary, abortion has few risks.
It can involve some cramping, and light bleeding afterward. It's a good
idea to bring a friend along for support.

When you call to make an appointment ask:

Do you need to tell your parents or get their permission first?

Do they provide counseling and answer questions?

Do they speak your native language?

What should you bring with you?

What are the possible risks and side effects?

What type of anesthesia do they use? (Local anesthesia is best, because
you will be awake during the operation, and it's safer, easier to recover
from, and costs less.)

How much does it cost?

Will they take a check or only cash?

Do they have a payment plan or reduced prices if you can't afford
it?

Abortions cost $350 or more. The costs and health risks increase after
the first 3 months of pregnancy. And it's harder to get an abortion after
3 months, so get help soon! If you can't pay for an abortion, the
Abortion Hotline will help you find a low-cost clinic
and can sometimes help with money (see Resources).

RU486(medical abortion)

RU486 is a newer way to end a pregnancy using
medication instead of surgery. It must be done in the first 9 weeks after
your last period started. You need to go to a health clinic to get the first pill or shot. A few days later, you will take
another medication, which causes your uterus to contract and helps the
pregnancy tissue to pass from your uterus. Within a week, you will begin
to bleed like when you have your period. You may feel something like menstrual
cramps, be tired or be sick to your stomach. You must go back to the clinic
after about 2 weeks for a follow-up visit to make sure everything worked.

The cost for an RU486 (medical) abortion
is about the same as an early surgical abortion. But there are some other
differences between the two types of abortions:

RU486 doesn't use anesthesia or surgery

RU486 is done very early in the pregnancy

depending on where you live, it may be easier to get RU486 than a surgical abortion

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